title: Efficient mid-infrared Cr:ZnSe channel waveguide laser operating at 2486 nm.
abstract: We report a Cr:ZnSe channel waveguide laser operating at 2486 nm. A maximum power output of 285 mW is achieved and slope efficiencies as high as 45% are demonstrated. Ultrafast laser inscription is used to fabricate the depressed cladding waveguide in a polycrystalline Cr:ZnSe sample. Waveguide structures are proposed as a compact and robust solution to the thermal lensing problem that has so far limited power scaling of transition metal doped II-VI lasers.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK. jrm7@hw.ac.uk
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Beecher
authors.forename: Patrick A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Schepler
authors.forename: Ajoy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kar